Former Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi has reflected on being part of the historic side’s CAF Champions League winning team in 1995 saying it was tougher than what the competition is currently.
Pirates defeated Ivorian side Asec Mimosa 3-2 on aggregate to win the continental inter-club competition and came close to winning it again in 2013 but lost to Al Ahly in the final.
Ramokadi spoke to iDiski Times senior writer Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 205 of the newspaper in a feature on this season’s final tie where Sundowns is still in the running to clinch it for the second time.
The former Bucs man recalled how different the format of the tournament was, playing in harsh conditions in front of intimating crowds while being newbies.
“The competition was a straight knockout back then, so it was a little harder because one mistake, you were out – unlike now with the league format,” Ramokadi told iDiski Times.
“But we really believed in ourselves; that we were the best on the continent, and we were confident that no one could beat us. The challenge was that we were new to continental football, and we played just about every match blind; we did not know anything about our opponents, and scouting was not like it currently is now.
“Our route to the final was not easy because we played in tough conditions in countries such as Nigeria, Uganda and Gabon. We were very disappointed to draw the first leg 2-2 at home because we expected to win.
Ramokadi added that Pirates counted on their solid defense, performance of their goalkeeper and confidence to taste glory.
“But we did not give up, and we went there for the second leg, having learnt that in Africa, the fans often turn against their teams when things are not going well,” added the former forward.
“Again, things were tough, and I remember the Chairman [Irvin Khoza] had to switch the hotel Asec had booked for us because it was not up to standard. On the eve of the match, their fans were chanting all night near our hotel, obviously in a bid to make us uncomfortable. And they packed the stadium by 11 am on match-day. Okpara [Williams] had a great game, and our defenders worked overtime because even though they did not have to win the match and could have been champions with a goalless draw.”
“Asec came at us hard in the early minutes, clearly looking to kill the contest off. We were under pressure, but we’d gotten used to such because in the earlier matches – especially in Nigeria – it was the same, and we survived the onslaught and went on to win.”
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